New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Kiroruf237’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘Kiroruf237’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; and numerous bright lavender-colored flowers with undulate margins and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KIRORUF237’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kiroruf237’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact and freely branching Impatiens plants with numerous flowers and attractive leaf and flower colors.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2010, of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number 09-311, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of the Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number 09-175, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Gensingen, Germany in April, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal cuttings propagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in Gensingen, Germany since May, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kiroruf237’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kiroruf237’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Numerous bright lavender-colored flowers with undulate         margins and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant habit as plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in plant habit as plants of the new Impatiens are not as upright as plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Impatiens are more freely branching than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of New Guinea Impatiens ‘Vinflavimp’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,222. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Vinflavimp’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens were darker in color         than leaves of plants of ‘Vinflavimp’.     -   2. Flower petals of plants of the new Impatiens had undulate         margins whereas flower petals of plants of ‘Vinflavimp’ did not         have undulate margins.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Vinflavimp’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Vinflavimp’ had light red         purple-colored flowers with white-colored centers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of New Guinea Impatiens ‘Visinfblla’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,147. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Visinfblla’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower petals of plants of the new Impatiens had undulate         margins whereas flower petals of plants of ‘Visinfblla’ did not         have undulate margins.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Visinfblla’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Visinfblla’ had purple and red         bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kiroruf237’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kiroruf237’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. during the summer in 11.5-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 27° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 2,500 to 4,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants which were pinched one time and had been growing for four weeks after planting rooted young plants when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Kiroruf237’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number 09-311 not patented.         -   Male, or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number 09-175, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at             temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 18 days             at temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 21 days             at temperatures about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Rapid growth rate; vigorous and             freely branching habit; about six lateral branches             developing at the base; dense and bushy growth habit;             pinching, that is, removal of the terminal apices, is             typically not required, but will enhance branching.         -   Plant height.—About 16.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 29 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Internode length: About 5.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 183B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,             close to 187C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 183B; venation, close to 187B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary flowers;             freely flowering habit with usually about six flowers and             flower buds per lateral branch; flowers positioned above and             beyond the foliar plane and typically face upright and             outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week under             greenhouse conditions; petals self-cleaning, gynoecium             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; plants begin flowering about four weeks after             planting young plants.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4.5 cm by 5 cm. Depth: About             2.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to N78C to N78D.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl. Length, banner petal: About 2.4 cm. Length,             lateral petals: About 2.7 cm. Length, lower petals: About             3 cm. Width, banner petal: About 4 cm. Width, lateral             petals: About 3 cm. Width, lower petals: About 2.8 cm.             Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire with irregular sinuate edges; undulate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to N78B. When opening,             lower surface: Close to N74C. Fully opened, upper surface:             Center, close to N78C; towards the apex, close to N78A;             central longitudinal line, close to N78B; towards the base,             close to 53A; colors do not fade with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to N78D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three arranged in a single             whorl; one modified into an elongated spur. Length: About             7 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate.             Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 53B. Spur length: About 4.2 cm. Spur diameter: At             flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Spur color: Close to 53B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 35° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 185A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther size: About 3 mm by 5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 53A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 158C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma             color: Close to 53D. Style color: Close to 53D. Ovary color:             Close to 153A.         -   Seeds and fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea     Impatiens plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Kiroruf237’ as illustrated and described. 